Hello Kawaii friends! I’m really into visiting girly vintage toy shops in Seoul. I just wanted to share with you some gems that I’ve found lately.
5 Vintage Toy Stores in Seoul
1. Contoyner (컨토이너)
Contoyner in Hongdae is a vintage shop and toy cafe, which has an insanely cute, instagrammable rooftop terrace on which to enjoy a pretty, albeit sweet beverage and take photos with ice cream, pink flamingos and pastel colored props and lawn furniture. The shop itself is part toy museum, part vintage toy shop. The owner seems to have a particular interest in Toy Story, the Nightmare Before Christmas, and One Piece. You can find a lot of items from Japan. Some look like UFO catcher wins from long ago, or some of that “for sale only in Japan” merchandise that is in fairly good (but not mint) condition. Knowing how things work in Japan, a lot of this merchandise, which is basically that new Merch comes out all the time and the old stuff becomes no longer available, much of the stuff in this shop is probably no longer sold.
314-9, Sangsu-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Subway: Sangsu Station (Seoul Subway Line 6), Exit 1. Walk out of the subway and go straight. Turn right at the first street, you will see a fork in the road. Bear left. Turn left at the next street, and make another left at the next street. You will start walking down a road that is a dead end. Contoyner is on the second floor of one of the buildings on your left. Look for the Christmas tree with donuts. If you reach the “no face” Japanese restaurant underground, you’ve gone too far.
Instagram: contoyner
2. Pixie Toy (픽시)
Pixie in Hongdae is a true girly girls shop. It specializes in Vintage My Little Pony, Care Bears; a small selection of no longer available Swimmer Japan merchandise (swimmer is a Kawaii Japanese brand selling saccharine Knick knacks and adorable junk that sadly went out of business in 2017), Lolita style clothing (just a small rack), and super sweet, super Kawaii Japanese plushies like this bunny. It’s a little out of the way from the main Hongdae street but definitely worth a visit. They also have a really good online store if you want to purchase online.
Seoul, Seodaemun-gu, Yeonhui-ro, 22
Subway: Hongik University Station (Seoul Subway Line 2, AREX, Gyeongui–Jungang Line), Exit 4. Cross a BIG 3 way intersection. Walk towards the gas station and keep walking up the street until you see a red building on your right.
Website: pixie-toy.com
3. Jelly Bubble (젤리버블)
Jelly Bubble is a vintage Toy Store that specializes in Mac Donald’s Toys which was super interesting for me. I actually had this vintage McDnalds lunch bag! She also has a variety of American toys and if you grew up in the 80’s, it will probably trigger major feelings of nostalgia for you! The simpsons, vintage Barbie;the Hershey Store in Times Square. Popples (I actually owned this one), Mr. Potato Head, pez dispensers, dream catchers?! She also has a nice little selection of Japanese stuff, like Alpacassos, Duffy bear; and Disney japan merchandise. I almost feel as though the owner and I should be best friends. I’ll be honest though . this store is kind of smack dab in the middle of nowhere and it was kind of a trek for me to get here. The owner has a pretty active Instagram page and speaks English if you want to get a preview of her stuff.
12 Seongbuk-ro 8-gil, Seongbuk-dong, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul
Subway: Hansung Universtiy Station (Seoul Subway Line 4), Exit 6, then walk towards the street vendors and go straight up the hill. Turn right at the 4th street. You will pass a CU on your right. Keep walking for about 5 minutes until you see a pink building on your right side.Instagram: jelly_bubble
4. Neko Kochi(네코코치)
Neko Kochi is a shop right smack in the middle of Hongdae that sells some vintage and some new-ish products. They seem to specialize in Japanese products especially Sailor Moon. You’ll also see some Q Posket figures, Sanrio stuff, powder puff girls, alpacasso, good luck charms that you will find at Japanese temples, MLP and more. While some of those vintage toy shops have a certain vintage smell, this shop seems to carry newer stuff and feels really fresh and clean. It’s a small and well curated collection of cute stuff that’s just a joy to look at. Sometimes when you go into vintage stores you have a sense that the walls are closing in on you, so in that sense, this store is definitely a breath of fresh air. Access via Hongik University Station.
Subway: Hongik University Station (Seoul Subway Line 2, AREX, Gyeongui–Jungang Line), Exit 8. Walk straight out until you reach the roundabout. Take the middle road. Turn right at the next street and then turn left so that you ware walking up a somewhat steep hill. Pass the first 4 streets. At the 5th street, you will turn left and face a fork in the road. Bear left. Neko Kochi will be on your right side, almost before you reach the next street.
7 Wausan-ro 29ga-gil, Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Website: http://nekokochi.co.kr/
5. Maison de Aloha (메종드알로하)
Maison de Aloha, ah where do I begin. I just happened upon this store while I was looking for a beauty cafe that no longer exists. What caught my eye was this monster wall of trolls! I used to love collecting these naked figures with fluorescent hair growing up… I guess they’ve now been replaced by Sonny Angel dolls? I think my mom gave my collection away though. I started walking towards the back and was looking at all the knick knacks and I saw a pack of confetti!! I used to be obsessed with this stuff in elementary school! Then I walked to the back to see a pink locker with a BOP poster with Alyssa Milano, Kirk Cameron.. BOP Is so nostalgic for me although I was more of a JTT fan, but then I turned to the other wall and a photo of a young Leonardo di Caprio? I mean, stick a fork in me. I was just done. If you are an 80’s child, theres no way you can NOT like this store. The sign makes it look like an upscale boutique that sells Tommy Bahamas shirts but when you step inside, it’s just a pure gem. This store is just a couple of streets down from Neko Kochi, in Hongdae.
18 Wausan-ro 29ga-gil, Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Subway: Hongik University Station (Seoul Subway Line 2, AREX, Gyeongui–Jungang Line), Exit 8. Walk straight out until you reach the roundabout. Take the middle road. Turn right at the next street and then turn left so that you ware walking up a somewhat steep hill. Pass the first 4 streets. At the 5th street, you will turn left and face a fork in the road. Go up the diagonal street on your right. The street will look a little bit deserted. Keep walking and you will see Maison de Aloha on your left.
Website: aalloohhaa.com
I just want to mention that all of these stores have somewhat unusual operating hours so be sure to check them before you go. I’m talking like 2 pm to 8 pm or something like that. and they don’t always open on time.
All in all, when I walked into these stores, especially Maison de Aloha and Jelly bubble I felt like they were made for me… An American who grew up in the 80’s and lived in Japan for 3 years. It makes me wonder who curated these stores. I don’t know if Koreans who grew up in Korea would have the same feeling of nostalgia, I mean did Koreans read BOP back in the day? Did they like Britney Spears and Leonardo Di Caprio? Were My Little Pony & Care Bears popular in Korea back then? I have so many unanswered questions! Do these things appeal to Koreans in the same way they appeal to me or do they appeal in a different way?
4 out of 5 of theses shops are in Hongdae, and open from like 1-9 or something so I’m pretty sure their market is university students, so I wonder how the younger generation views these stores.
I’d like to know your thoughts, so leave me a comment below! When did you grow up and what were some of your favorite toys & characters back in the day?